Hurricane Dorian was the most powerful tropical cyclone on record to strike the Bahamas, and certainly the worst natural disaster in Bahamian history. Those of us on Florida’s Atlantic Coast prepared for the worst, yet were spared. This is the story of Team Hyjenx and the roles that Jenkins Landscape and friends played to bring hope and relief to small cays of the Bahama Islands.
On Sunday, September 8, at 11:00 p.m. the National Hurricane Center issued the final advisory on Hurricane Dorian. But what it left behind is a terrifying story of perseverance, survival and hope.
After Dorian squatted over the Bahamas for days, getting aid to survivors was a logistical nightmare. Roads, airports, communications grids, and electrical services were all down. In spite of these challenges, the outpouring of support from the citizens all along the coast of South Florida was truly inspiring. Jenkins Landscape, under the direction of Landscape and Irrigation Manager Steven Jenkins and friends formed Team Hyjenx. Together, they made multiple crossings on Jenkins’ boat Hyjenx to deliver over almost 10,000 pounds of supplies to Grand Cay, Turtle Cay, Abaco and other smaller islands unable to get immediate airlift support.
Grand Cay, 14 September 2019
We cannot thank enough the employees, friends, and residents of our area that so generously donated supplies, and the bravery of the Team Hyjenx crew that faced uncertainty on the water crossing and at the docks.
Abaco Cay, 27 September 2019
Video credit: Hyjenx Team member Daniel Massey.Over sixty boats from South Florida made the crossing, none for the accolades. Similar to Team Hyjenx, they were simply determined to support those who took the hit from the storm that may well have been ours.
No one is useless in this world who lightens the burden of another.
Charles Dickens